Alumni Message Board

Christy F. wrote this spring to say, "This year I celebrated 11 years of sobriety."

"God willing, I will celebrate 10 years without any mind altering substance including all types of alcohol and all drugs ad infinitum on April 28, 2005. My sobriety date is April 28, 1995. I arrived at Sober Living on May 5, 1995 and successfully completed their entire 90 day inpatient program... I am always glad to go into greater detail if it would help another alcoholic!" — Ross D.

JoEllen C. reports that her life is a miracle these days! She has peace in her life due to her relationship with God. She also has a great relationship with her 17 year old son and is very grateful to have him back in her life. Now has so many good friends she doesn't know what to do with them all.

JoEllen says she got rid of anger, blame, hatred and resentment and now derives a great sense of satisfaction from volunteer work at Yellowstone, a detox facility for indigent women. JoEllen, who says she was once the "relapse queen," has been clean and sober for 1 1/2 years. Her advice to people in recovery: "Don't give up."

Ryan M. says that one change in his life is that he doesn't sleep outdoors anymore, alluding to the days when he'd sleep on top of apartment buildings rather than in them because he'd blown all his money on drugs. Today Ryan is a straight-A student at Orange Coast College majoring in biomedical physics. He intends to continue his studies, focusing on genetics and disease at the University of California.

Brendan B. had failed out of Pepperdine College before he got sober in March, 1997. Today he works full time managing a bookshop. He was one of the original seven to participate in the TEACH Program, going back to school at Saddleback College where he maintained a 4.0 gpa while working toward a Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certificate.

In May 2004, Brendan graduated cum laude from the University of California, Irvine. Today Brendan is a full time law student at Whittier Law School and he continues as T.E.A.C.H. counselor at Sober Living by the Sea.

Erik J. clean and sober since he entered the program in September '98. Erik moved from Cincinnati, Ohio to Anaheim after he graduated, since his new friends and lifestyle were in California. Now hosts a men's group in his home twice a week. Is grateful that he now has the mental and spiritual tools to stay clean and sober. Reports his relations are greatly improved. He likes to play golf and bowl in his leisure time.

Scott T. got to SLBTS August 31, 2001 and stayed for about 9 months. "I attended an intersession and a full semester at Saddleback and a semester at OCC in the TEACH program. I was accepted to Chapman University in the Spring of 2003 and I am currently working on a BS in Psychobiology. I have been sober now for over 3.5 years and look to go on to law school."

"I was a former TEACH student and wished to give you an update on things in my life.
First off I'm currently attending Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. I'm currently a Junior and majoring in History with a minor in Economics. I will be transferring to a new school at the end of this semester to finish my BA before continuing on to my Master's and PhD.

"I also have the pleasure of letting ya'll know I'm engaged to be married at the end of 2006. Please give Paul and Brendan my best wishes as both men really made
profound impacts on my life while I was there. I worked as an intern in the TEACH program and developed good relationships with the staff." — Trey B.

"The T.E.A.C.H. program and SLBTS positively changed my entire outlook on life. I maintained straight A's at Saddleback, earning a spot on the Dean's List every semester. I became a member of the National Dean's List (2002). At University of California, Irvine, I was inducted into Psi Chi (the National Honor Society in Psychology) in 2004. Today, I work as a behavioral modification therapist." — Mark H.

"My husband and I received your newsletter and read the article about project T.E.A.C.H. Our son is a graduate from that program and had his five-year sobriety anniversary October 3, 2004. It was the best move we ever made to have him continue his treatment with you. His name is Chris M. The idea of having him in a 'normal' environment and then, being challenged by 'triggers' and then being able to work through those triggers made a huge difference in our lives!

"He has graduated from the University of Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Film. He received academic honors from the film department. He was accepted at the University of Texas in Austin this fall in their graduate program in film. Over 200 people apply to that program and they only accept 12. He was one of the ones accepted! Before he left Las Vegas in July, he married his long time love from high school and she moved to Austin with him. They were married July 3, 2004 (on our anniversary!)" — Judy M.

Alumni: Where are you now? How's your life?
We'd like to hear from you.

Sober Living By The Sea Treatment Centers
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Newport Beach, CA 92663
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